Hawk learned from CBI that Viper and the others wouldn’t see the free world again. Hawk knew the Nomads would be lucky if they made it six months in prison. Through the outlaw grapevine, Hawk learned Reaper promised punishment for the Nomads for holding out on all that money and for double-crossing the other chapters. Viper would get what he deserved.
“You still sulking?” Banger asked as he slid on the bar stool next to Hawk.
Hawk glared at him, threw back a shot of whiskey, and then motioned for Jerry to bring him another. “Jerry’s close to getting patched in. He’ll make a good addition to the brotherhood.”
“Yeah, he will. You know, you got a spitfire as your woman.” Banger laughed. “Fuck, she cracked Viper’s skull, almost killed him. She’s got gumption.”
“She’s not my woman.”
“The hell she ain’t. No woman does that for a man without being his woman. Problem with you is you’re acting like a pussy, sulking around here instead of claimin’ her and makin’ her your ol’ lady.”
“Butt out, old man.”
“Get off your sulky ass and claim her pussy so we can get on with club business. Fuck, because of your pussy-whipped ass, I can’t run the club. Get your shit straight.” Banger downed his shot, clapped Hawk on his shoulder, and walked over to Brandi. Hawk watched as Banger grabbed her ass, and tugged her close then kissed her. Dragging her behind him, they went to one of the small rooms.
Banger’s words echoed in Hawk’s mind. He threw back his last shot, nodded to Jerry, and walked out of the clubhouse. He jumped on his bike and headed toward Pinewood Springs.
Cara owed him an explanation, and he was fucking going to get it.
* * *
Hawk stood on the mansion’s porch between two stone columns; he had never been to a house this big or ritzy. As he rang the bell, he hoped Cara would answer, but a slim, attractive woman in her early fifties opened the door instead. She greeted him with a look of utter disapproval. “May I help you?”
“I’m here to see Cara.”
“Cara? She’s not available. Is there something I can help you with?”
“I know she’s here. I need to talk to her.”
“Is this about the problem she’s having with her car? I think my husband found a mechanic.”
Knowing this bitch was his babe’s mother kept him from being rude, but she had such a high-and-mighty air about her that he would have loved to have set her straight. Biting his tongue, Hawk just stared at her. She appeared to be flustered by him and his tattoos, her eyes glued to the hawk. It struck him as funny, since she didn’t seem to be the type of person who would fluster easily.
As she closed the door, Hawk put his foot out to prevent it from shutting.
Surprise shone in her brown eyes. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave, sir. I know who you are—you’re that hoodlum who’s been sniffing around my daughter. Eric told me all about you and your gang.”
“I don’t belong to a gang, and I don’t sniff around anyone, ma’am,” he said.
“It’s a slap in my face that my daughter would even entertain going out with you. And you standing here now, well, you don’t even have the decency to be embarrassed about the situation,” she said in a tight voice.
As anger flared in his eyes, he said, “I don’t embarrass. Now, ma’am, will you please get Cara? I need to talk with her.” He stood his ground, his foot still in the door.
“What’s going on here, Cathy?” a man’s voice boomed.
“Nothing I can’t handle,” his wife replied.
Vincent Minelli was a tall man in his mid-fifties. His thinning hair had specks of gray among the brown strands, and he had warm, green eyes and a winning smile. He came to his wife’s side, hand on the small of her back, and asked, “What seems to be the problem?”
“There’s no problem. I’m here to talk with Cara. We know each other,” Hawk said.
“I’ve already told him Cara isn’t available,” Cathy said in a high voice.
“Nonsense, Cara’s here.” Vincent went to the bottom of the grand staircase and bellowed, “Cara, come down here.”
“Vince, I don’t think we should allow this.” She wrung her hands. “This isn’t something we want to encourage.”
“What’s up, Dad?” Cara said as she came down the stairs.
“Your friend is here to see you,” her father explained.
“Cara, you don’t have to—”
“Come on, Cathy, let Cara and her friend be alone.” Turning to Hawk, he said, “What’s your name, sir?”